Ernesto Valverde Makes A Bold Claim About Barcelona

Copa del Rey all time top scorers: Which legends are still ahead of Lionel Messi?

Barca, who lost for the first time this season against Espanyol - face Real Betis at the weekend.

Espanyol's academy graduate Oscar Melendo crashed in the only goal of the game in the 88th minute after Messi had his spot-kick turned away by former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez earlier in the second half.

And Valverde feels that, although it is only a slender deficit, Espanyol are favourites ahead of next Thursday's return leg in Camp Nou.

"We knew [a defeat] was going to arrive at some point", Busquets said. From there, the game went in a direction we didn't want and we complicated things.

Barcelona hit their stride in the coach's new 4-4-2 system but Suarez lagged behind, missing Neymar, who left for Paris St Germain in the middle of previous year. "We tried to keep the run going as long as possible, but it wasn't to be tonight". Espanyol sensed that and sat deep in the first half, making the visitors work hard for their chances.

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